New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-06-26
FUN IN CAMP.
THE SEVENTH PLAYS POKER AT PEEKsKILr

THE SEVENTH PLAYS POKER AT PEEKSKILh
HOW THE SOLDIERS MANAGED To PASS TINE
CAPTAIN wENDELs COMMAND.
The 7th Regiment never had much worse luck
than with this years work in the State Camp at
PeekskilI. The first three days were scorchcrs,
the hottest within the memory of the Oldest camp
hanger-on upon the Hudson. Then suddenly there
was an even more disgusting change in the weather.
Old Dunderhead, the bald peak across the river
famous as collector of storms since the days OF
Rip Van Wrinkle. got an old-fashioned grip on
passing storm.cenlre and for three days the
camp was hopelessy flooded with showers. Dress
parades were spoiled. and even company and
skirmish drills had to be put of. Governor Hills
visit of inspection fzzed out: and worst
Of all rather s0ggy shade was
thrown over the visit of the veterans
on Friday. Few other visitors came during those
rainy days. and the militiamen were left to their
own devices in the dripping tents with no games
but poker on pair of camp stools. and no military
exercises but q sort of pistol practice not to be
found in the manual. And so what ought ia
have been pleasant week of outdoor work and
sport was turned in part into O rainy, humdrum
taste of garrison life.
West Point ITSELF in fair weather. could scarcely
offer moro charming drIli-ground for this half
jaunt, halt campaign, that the militia regiments
make one week in each summer up the Hudson.
Fancy broad, high plateau jutting out into the
Hudson, just where the river breaks away with
final effort from the chatting foothills OF
the Catskill range. The camp-ground plain
is cut off three sides by steep bluffs
straight to the waters edge. and.
walled in behind by mountain still uncleared and
rugged, whose thick pines aud underbrush show
dark behind the clean, neat rows of tents and tho
smooth. velvety green of the parade-ground.
When the plain is flied for dress parade, all life
and hustle with hurrying companies and battalons,
each bayone pencil Of silver in the suns slanting
rays each button FURNISHED eagle immaculate
dnck trousers and white helmets in the ranks. staff
officers splendid with blue and yellow and god. the
green square lined with bright faces and futtering
hearts and ribbons one scarcely knows which spec
tacIe to think the more exharating and delightful
Who would not be q mitia-man at 81 Is day
for six days of that air and view. for six days Of
those admiring glapcesf
Nothing could have been moro dreary than the
camp, however when the heavy msts of Wednes-
day and Thursday were settling down on the hook
in st. Anthonys Nose, and the gray storm clouds
were dropping over the top of the Dunderberg
For tar; y-six hours the rain came down in show
ers now melting away to mist now thckeninR
almost to waterspouts, till the water-logged can
vas hung limp on the tent roofs. Only the guard
was stirring outside, each sentinel keeping his
beat in the wet disguised with his fatal neatnesA
and good looks for getting him into such pickle.
Guard duty under the camp rules this year lasts
for twenty-four hours. broken only by relicss,
to give the on-duty men chance to
dry off in the guard-room. Cappas band
ran through few melancholy airs
10 the big practising tent and the jolly German
in WpndetS 81
Battery played pranks on one another in theft
little side camp on the bluff. To all appearancea
the rank and file of the 7th were dead asleep 10
the tents But had one listened at the flaps, sOmc-
thing like this would have been waited out:
What. and couldn't open it have to call you.
never beat"
Il never did have any luck anyway"
One enterprising mill iaman 10 Blank Row bad
brought along small box OF chips.
s apa tD TSe w games we're great small ones
usually. One that was run across on Thursday
had been in progress for about an hour Inc play
cashlng In for supper, aud sympathiznS
What are you ont, Charley ~
Charley had six white chips left
That makes $I4 CO." murmnred Charley with
out smiling. Then after the preliminary manipula-
banker" aud there was little more pistol praciics
around.
The hot and wet spells together couldn't take all
the fun and horseplay out of the TIN. Neither
could the unusual stringency this year at the head
quarters of the Governors staff There is story
going about that Inspectator Phisterer re-
ported Company for "carelessness." because he
found a half-burned match in the street before one
of its tents. The boys tried TO get en- the next
night by singing this in recitativs:
What Is he looking fort
matches"
What. does he cat r.
What is his rankp
Every rank
What is his name"
"PisteIer."
"Pdslerer" was changed to "Frou Frou' after
ward, the advice of one Of the officers. Such,
at least. is the story up around PeekskIll.
An amusing feature of camp life was the effort OF
a Young Mems Christian Association worker
to try conversion al short range on the
of camp and labelled Library" something Of
that sort. Inside was an accordion. file of tho
NeTYoIk daily papers and nnmoer les tracts ros
around TO " size the place up" aud learned that
there might be Gospel meetings during the week.
One day The accordion was borrO wed and unfortn-
nately left out in the rain. When it was returned
with prOfuse apologies. II was water-logged. The
young man couldn't grind even Home. Sweet
Home" out OF II. and that was the END OF ina
evangelical meetings.
There was no end of horse-p during the week.
One rather fncal youngster produced an embroid-
cred night-shirt the first night in camp. and
the news spread rapidly. The next day
his vaise was found open and the night-shrt gone.
Ii is said that one of the darkeys at the rcs-
taurant has been wearing 1t for dress-shrt since.
Another man, who had slipped into the river, hung
up his trousers to dry on Saturday night. and was
confined to his tent the greater part of Sunday In
consequence.
Some wag hung three gilt balls over the tent